The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-11-18

son man and wife, tied as tightly and
honestly as minister and witnesses.
and all legal authority could join them.
The Colonel stormed ut his daughter
and at the newly married pair; swore
Boyle should spend his wedding night
in the guard-house and Ellen be ''sent
packing" at once. and raised row
gcncralIy-at first; then quoted down,
called himself an .'old fool" for both
ering his head about such matters, and
consented that the pair should occupy
section of the headquarter building.
And so all went on as before; the
man attended to his duties. the girl
continued to serve my aunt, and for
months it seemed never to occur to the
minds of any that such arrangement
should ever suffer Il change.
But Boylc's term of enlistment drew
to close. 1t WAS now certain that he
was not enrolled under his true name,
and also that he intended to leave the
army. to return to his family, and to
make home for his girl wife.
This much Ellen confided to her
young mistress, but particulars. rs TO
name. etc. she would not give. Darcy
had forbidden her to say more until
the time came"
.'But deed. Miss Rita" the girl said.
81 know of his place and his people
well; not far from where came it is.
and fine people they are; an that's all
that frcts me, fcarin' they'll be look
ing down on me-.
YOU'RE as good as the best of them.
let them be good rs they may" my aunt
would assure her, and believing it. too.
That's what Darcy says, Miss"
Ellen would reply proudly; "3ut still
my heart misgiyes me-"
When the day of Boyle's discharge
came he was fully prepared to start at
once across the ocean. Ellen had beg
ged him to leave her behind until he
had arranged matters with his people
and prepared the way for her reception
with a true welcome.
At first the man positively refused;
then, 1 supposed. the thought of en-
joying entire freedom for time pleas
ed him. He consented with real or
seeming reluctance and departed alone.
Not, however. until he had one pri-
vate interview with the old Colonel,
who told him:
Il know what men are, sir; young
fellows like you. You mean well, and
do fair enough while You are here UNI
der military and petticoat discipline;
but you are not fit to have free foot;
You can't hold yourselves in.
However, l have no further COM
mand over you. and you have chosen
to go away alone and leave your wife
! here; she's welcome to stay so long as
she pleases; she's u good girl in every
way. But she'll never be content away
from you. remember that; make home
and send for her or come for her as
soon as you can and you'll be doing the
part of a man. Don't let freedom or
any thing else run away with you and
make you leave her, or if you do. don't
ever come within my reach. or I'll
break every bone in your body. You
hear me, sir!
'.Now, good by; be as good man as
| you have been n soldier, and God bless
YOU"
The eN-sergeant sailed away. Ellen
! alone went to see him off i'm the great
packet ship, this was before the day of
ocean steamers, please remember; and
l fhn 80 oil e, Il
in waiting on my aunt and with WELL
assumed cheerfulness busted herself
more than ever in order to '.kill time"
until word should arrive from her hus-
band.
She had insisted upon his taking
every cent of her savings. in order that
he might make good appearance and
be independent of his family when he
once more joined them; and he had
taken it, no inconsiderable sum, with
the sclfishness peculiar to man.
On her return from the departing
vessel Ellen had narrow black ribbon
about her neck; keen to note the least
change in the girl, Miss Rita asked her
if Darcy had been buying her locket
Blushingly she answered: '.No, miss;
it's bit of foolishness. may be. but l
often heard Of it before; when two
lovers part they split a shilling. and
so Ibroke shilling piece in two halves,
and put hole and ribbon in both. and
one is round Darcy's neck and this one
is round mine"
give heard of that also." said Aunt
Rita, "but think he might have bought
you something nicer than to take the
broken half of what must have been
your last shilling"
1T was, miss-the last 1 had in the
world-and that helps the charm. l
wanted no other gift When my half
shilling finds his. he will be with it or
l will be dead" and Ellen whispered
this SO solemnly that it could easily be
seen that she was far from thinking
that ''may be it was foolishness"
Well, in due time came a letter from
Boyle announcing his safe arrival. his
full reconciliation with his family.
whom he had found greatly increased
in wealth and Importance and so. at
that short notice. he had said nothing
of Ellen or his marriage.
This seemed ominOus to all but the
| girl herself; she was perfectly satisfied
and well willing to wait his good time.
And his good time. or bad time, he
took for further communication. for
none ever came to gladden. that poor
1 <o~lo, hao,<